With a diet rich in meat and supplements of Blood and Qi Powder, Chen Qing's physical strength improved dramatically. The number of times he could practice the Long Arm Fist each day also steadily increased.
[Heaven Rewards Diligence, and Success is Assured]
[Long Arm Pile Skill: Minor Achievement (871/1000)]
[Long Arm Fist: Minor Achievement (781/1000)]
[Gale Saber Technique: Minor Achievement (66/1000)]
'In a month at most, I'll be able to break through to the Dark Force Realm.'
Chen Qing mused to himself. After quickly tidying up, he headed for Qinghe Pier.
He had been training diligently lately, and his consumption of Blood and Qi Powder was especially high.
This Blood and Qi Powder not only increased his blood and qi but also had the remarkable effect of relieving fatigue, allowing him to maintain his high-intensity cultivation.
The moment Chen Qing stepped through the gates of the River Department, Old Li hurried over. "Ah Qing, emergency assembly."
Old Li, like Chen Qing, served under Cheng Ming. He had been with the River Department for over twenty years but had never been promoted to River Envoy due to his limited strength.
"An assembly!?" Chen Qing was confused.
Old Li lowered his voice. "Don't ask. Just come with me."
Soon, all the River Patrols of the River Department had gathered, with no exceptions—not even for nominal staff like Chen Qing.
An impressive-looking middle-aged man walked over, surrounded by Cheng Ming and the other River Envoys. This was none other than the Chief River Envoy, Ke Yunqi.
Ke Yunqi's gaze swept over the crowd like lightning as he said in a low, serious voice, "Captain Pang will arrive at South River Pier at noon. All teams must guard their respective river sections strictly. If any troublemakers appear, arrest them on the spot..."
Hearing this, Chen Qing instantly understood.
'No wonder the entire River Department was mobilized like this. They were welcoming Captain Pang back from his period of mourning.'
With the order given, the nine teams quickly dispersed to set up defenses at key points along the Nan River.
The banks of the Nan River were lined with buildings packed closely together, creating a unique landscape of alleys and courtyards.
Boats shuttled back and forth across the sparkling, sun-dappled water.
On one side was the clamor of the Outer City's markets. On the other were the brilliant, sleepless lights showcasing the Inner City's round-the-clock prosperity.
"The Inner City... now that's the real land of leisure."
Cheng Ming sighed. "The restaurants, flower boats, and gambling dens here run all night. As long as you have enough silver, this place is heaven on earth. Countless people in the Outer City would kill to move in, even if it's just to settle on the very edge of the Inner City."
Hearing this, several of the older Patrols got a wistful look in their eyes.
Cheng Ming looked at Old Li. "With your savings, you should be able to afford a two-room place in the Inner City by next year, right?"
Old Li gave a wry smile. "It'll have to be the year after. Housing prices in the Inner City have gone up again."
Chen Qing gazed at the Inner City in the distance, lost in his own thoughts.
'The slums of the Outer City are overrun with gangs and the conditions are harsh, while the Inner City is a paradise everyone yearns for.
'In this world, the chasm between classes is carved deep into everyone's bones.
'For the poor to climb the social ladder and cross that divide is incredibly difficult.
'The true paths to wealth are held in the iron grip of the Noble Families, leaving almost no room for commoners.
'Only the path of the Martial Arts Examination seems to offer a chance to break these shackles and find a glimmer of hope.
'But how could an ordinary family possibly afford to raise a Martial Artist?
'Silver coins, resources, connections—each is a formidable obstacle.'
The ancients often said it was difficult for a great man to come from a Humble Family, but many people never even understood what "Humble Family" meant—it referred to fallen Noble Families who still had some ancestral legacy to lean on and some connections to maintain.
As for someone like Chen Qing, with no house and no land, barely scraping by on two boats, he could, at best, be considered half a commoner.
If it was so difficult for a great man to emerge from a Humble Family, for a commoner to change their fate and leap across classes was harder than ascending to the heavens.
Just then, a Patrol whispered, "That guy looks like Hou Huaiyu, the 'Wind Chasing Hand,' Vice Gang Leader of the Blood River Gang!?"
Following the direction he pointed, they saw four or five burly men in matching gang attire, their arms embroidered with various patterns. The men were tall and powerfully built. Their leader sat impassively in a corner drinking tea, clearly someone not to be provoked.
Old Li narrowed his eyes. "The Iron Hand Gang is here too."
Not far away, another group of impressive-looking gang members was watching.
The Blood River Gang and the Iron Hand Gang were the two largest gangs in Gaolin County. They had numerous experts within their ranks and owned their own businesses, putting them in a completely different league from smaller gangs like the Jinhe Gang or the Black Water Gang.
Cheng Ming said slowly, "When the Captain was here, he was especially strict in cracking down on these gangs. The largest gang at the time, the Cao Sect, was completely uprooted by him. Now that the Captain has returned, the Blood River Gang and the Iron Hand Gang naturally want to test the waters."
Besides the Two Major Gangs, factions like the Wangyuan Escort Agency and the Weapon Forging Shop had also sent people.
Even more eye-catching were the disciples from the Guangchang Martial Arts Hall and the Hongyun Martial Arts Hall. Each one was brimming with vital energy, clearly all skilled fighters.
Cheng Ming reminded them from the side, "You should be familiar with Chief Wu of the Wangyuan Escort Agency and Chief Shopkeeper Cao of the Weapon Forging Shop... You absolutely must not offend any of these factions."
Old Li hesitated for a moment before adding, "Guo Ziaoao, the head disciple of the Guangchang Martial Arts Hall, is at the Transmutation Force level. If you run into him in the future, you must be careful. The man has a very volatile temper..."
Several of the younger Patrols had clearly heard of Guo Ziaoao's fearsome reputation and nodded gravely.
A chill went down Chen Qing's spine as he committed the faces of every expert present to memory.
This was the first time he had come into contact with so many factions, so many experts.
After all, the Captain might not remember who showed up, but he would definitely know who didn't.
Just then, a commotion arose from the river.
"Zhu Qing! He's a Transmutation Force expert from the Zhu Family."
"He's not an easy person to deal with. The Five Great Races sent him to welcome the Captain... could it be that..."
...
The crowd followed the voices and saw a lavishly decorated pleasure boat slowly approaching. Standing at its bow was a middle-aged man with an extraordinary air.
Zhu Qing was not only a Transmutation Force expert, but he also had the backing of the Five Great Races.
His appearance immediately made the atmosphere on the scene tense up.
"He's here! The Captain is back!"
A sudden commotion erupted from the crowd, and the entire waterway instantly burst into an uproar.
The experts from the various factions, who had been watching leisurely, all rose to their feet, their gazes uniformly fixed on the distant river.
A black-canopied boat slowly approached. Seated at its bow was a middle-aged man in a blue robe.
The man's expression was calm, with a hint of aloofness and indifference in his eyes. This was the Captain of Gaolin County, Pang Qinhai.
The moment Captain Pang appeared, a tide of discussion surged through the crowd.
"That's Captain Pang!"
Cheng Ming couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "It's said he became a Martial Scholar at fifteen, passed the Military Examination at eighteen, and mastered the Eight Desolates Prison-Suppression Technique. The leader of the Cao Sect was killed by a single palm strike from him."
"And the Cao Sect's leader was an expert at the peak of the Transmutation Force Realm!"
Chen Qing focused his gaze and saw that Zhu Qing, who had been so imposing just moments before, was now hurrying forward to greet him.
The two spoke cheerfully, with none of the expected tension in the air.
The crowd consciously parted to make way, watching as the group headed toward the Inner City.
The surrounding chatter continued long after Captain Pang's figure disappeared around a street corner.
The scene of the gathered experts replayed in Chen Qing's mind, and he struggled to calm the shock in his heart.
"Lord Captain is truly as impressive as you'd expect from someone from the Wutai Sect," Old Li said with deep emotion. "Even the Five Great Races have to show him deference."
A trace of confusion appeared in Chen Qing's eyes. "The Wutai Sect!?"
Cheng Ming explained, "This Sect is practically a state within a state. The tax silver collected from all regions each year is split into two portions: one for the Court, and one for the Sect."
"And the Sect's responsibility is to protect the cities and common people of each region, as well as to eliminate Heretics and suppress rebellions."
"Our Yunlin Prefecture has four great Sects, and the Wutai Sect is one of them. It's said that they possess profound and mysterious Martial Arts, Secret Techniques, and even..."
Cheng Ming lowered his voice. "Experts above the Transmutation Force Realm are stationed there. This is also why Captain Pang's status is so transcendent."
Hearing this, Chen Qing's mind was thrown into turmoil.
'The power of the Manifest Force Realm was already beyond the imagination of ordinary people. What kind of Realm lay beyond Transmutation Force?
'Could it be... that people who practice Cultivation truly exist in this world?
'My current strength is so low. What I've seen and heard is nothing more than a drop in the ocean.'
"Chief, how can someone join the Wutai Sect?"
A flame of desire ignited in the eyes of a young Patrol.
Cheng Ming shook his head with a wry smile. "First, you have to distinguish yourself in the Martial Arts Examination, then go through multiple rounds of selection in the Prefecture City..."
"Succeed in the Martial Arts Examination..."
The young Patrol clenched his fists.
Chen Qing remained silent, saying nothing.
'Still so young.'
Old Li watched the passionate youth and shook his head to himself.
"Don't overthink it. All of that is too far out of our reach."
Cheng Ming glanced at them. "For now, the most important thing is to be patient and focus on overcoming the hurdles right in front of you."
...